What's your favorite kind of production knife to collect?

Remington slipjoints (ca. 1920-1940), followed by New York Knife Co. (ca. 1882-1931) and pre-1965 Case slippies.

The only modern knives that interest me enough to collect 'em these days are handmade, though I am hanging on to a smallish collection of early Vero Beach Microtechs.
 
Benchmades that have the axis lock. They are a lefty's wet dream. I also love how you can slam it shut as fast as you can open it.
 
Rick said:
Remington slipjoints (ca. 1920-1940), followed by New York Knife Co. (ca. 1882-1931) and pre-1965 Case slippies.
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Interesting specialization, Rick...
Can you recommend any reference material on older knives like these?
Any books out there that give good ID tips for these collectibles?

Bob
 
Baatfam said:
Interesting specialization, Rick...
Can you recommend any reference material on older knives like these?
Any books out there that give good ID tips for these collectibles?

Bob
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Hey Bob.

I'd start with "Counterfeiting Antique Cutlery" by Gerald Witcher. It will help you spot cleaning, fakes and reworks, and you'll learn a lot about the original finishes, tang stamps, and how the old factory knives were put together.

Also useful:

"Levine's Guide To Knives and Their Values" (and check out "Bernard Levine's Knife Collecting & Identification" board, and the "Traditional" board here at BF).

"Antique Knives" by J. Bruce Voyles

"American Premium Guide to Knives and Razors" by Jim Sargent

The last two are primarily useful because they have hundreds of reprinted plates from the old cutlery catalogs showing pics and pattern numbers, but take the pricing info with a grain o' salt.

Have fun, and go slow.
 
if i was a millionaire it would be old knives. the ones i see all the time in my buddies collection start about 300$ & go up to over 1000$. since i'm a blue collar kat i go with gec. they look ole timey & have the great construction of elder knives.i wo'nt argue that they take liberty with the labels they place on their patterns but the knives are so pretty.
 
Schrade-USA Old Timers.

Bruckmann, a vintage German brand

I never intended to seriously Collect Swiss Army Knives, but as a result of my inability to say "no" to a discontinued / closeout / super-duper sale prince, I now have quite a few. Both Wenger and Victorinox.

Mostly though I'm still an Accumulator, buying knives of every brand and style, whatever catches my eye. :)
 
I don't keep knives very long and I have a new one often but I would have to say I have had far more Spyderco than any other brand.
 
well its problly spyderco/benchmade =D

i have some kershaws and do they have some good knives... but ehhh they aren't at up there in my mind as spyder/ benchmade knives =p
 
DennisStrickland said:
if i was a millionaire it would be old knives. the ones i see all the time in my buddies collection start about 300$ & go up to over 1000$. since i'm a blue collar kat i go with gec. they look ole timey & have the great construction of elder knives.i wo'nt argue that they take liberty with the labels they place on their patterns but the knives are so pretty.
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Good point, Dennis. I was fortunate enough to get started back in the '70s when honest old slippies sporting their original factory finishes were still comparatively common and affordable. As you say, it's much tougher now unless you're pretty well heeled, but they still occasionally fall through the cracks if you're patient and do your homework.
 
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